Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Stakes

Heritage Handicap,
Newmarket 15:40
£175,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus,
2m 2f, Class 2   
Saturday 11th October 2025

FormRatings

There’s a sense of déjà vu hanging over Heath House, and Sir Mark Prescott may have to keep waiting for his first Cesarewitch crown. The big-race favourite Pendragon, once as short as 4-1, now looks a doubtful starter despite a meteoric rise through the handicap ranks.

This three-year-old has swept from a modest 69 rating to a lofty 109 on the back of three wins this season and a gallant Doncaster Cup second behind Sweet William—a run that left him 12lb well-in for the Cesarewitch. Yet the Rowley Mile’s notoriously fickle ground could scupper the bid.

“He’s unlikely to run in the Cesarewitch and I left him in at this stage in case the ground came quick but that is the only reason he would run.

"It’s our intention to turn him out and then send him off on his travels and head for the race in Saudi Arabia (Red Sea Turf Handicap, Riyadh, February 14) but I will just wait until I see the conditions for the Cesarewitch first.

"It was a good run at Doncaster and I don’t like going up 12lb in one hit, but the fact he did go up 12lb for it tells you it was a good performance, it was just a shame not to win.

"His owners are not getting any younger and have had quite a few offers for the horse, but they have taken the view they would like to enjoy him to the full.”

In classic Prescott fashion, the decision hinges on the heavens. The veteran trainer may yet pivot abroad, aiming Pendragon at Riyadh’s lucrative Red Sea Turf Handicap. For now, the Cesarewitch puzzle loses its likely favourite—and gains another twist worthy of autumn’s drama.

On a golden September afternoon at Newmarket, the Turners Cesarewitch Trial Handicap unfolded like a parable — and Reverend Hubert was its preacher, delivering a sermon of stamina, style, and sheer dominance.

The gates flew open, but Reverend Hubert hesitated — a tardy start that might have rattled lesser souls. Not Harry Davies. Calm as a chapel breeze, he settled his mount at the rear, biding time as Almuhit dictated the early rhythm.

As the field swept past the halfway mark, Davies spotted salvation — a rail run, narrow as a confessional booth. With divine timing, he guided Reverend Hubert through the gap, unleashing a relentless surge that turned prayer into prophecy.

The crowd gasped. Eight lengths clear. Chutzpal gave chase but was left grasping at shadows. The Reverend had ascended.

“We’d planned to ride him handy, but he missed the break. Harry didn’t panic and gave him a lovely ride,” said Cathal Byrnes, assistant to trainer Charles Byrnes.

“I got a lovely run up the rail,” added Davies, “and hopefully I can ride him back here in three weeks’ time.”

With this commanding performance, Reverend Hubert not only earned a penalty but punched his ticket to the Cesarewitch proper — now trimmed to 12-1 from 33s. The sermon isn’t over. The congregation awaits.

SureWIn

Cesarewitch Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
£175,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 2
45 remaining entries
Going:

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Sep 23)
1 /5-463 Hipop De Loire 8 9-12 W P Mullins
2 0-6636 Queenstown 5 9-12 A P O'Brien
3 5-0500 London City 4 9-9 A P O'Brien
4 -23052 Divine Comedy 7 9-5 Harry Eustace
5 5-4446 Barnso 4 9-4 Alan King
6 1-6004 Dawn Rising 8 9-3 Joseph O'Brien
7 14-166 East India Dock 4 9-3 James Owen
8 1/03-9 The Shunter 12 9-3 Emmet Mullins
9 985/0- Sea Of Sands 7 9-2 W P Mullins
10 503210 Charging Thunder 7 9-2 James Owen
11 1/3-45 Bunting 5 9-1 W P Mullins
12 4-4408 Feigning Madness 4 9-1 Ralph Beckett
13 644-02 Nurburgring 5 9-1 Joseph O'Brien
14 164/01 Filey Bay 9 9-0 Emmet Mullins
15 -21003 Manxman 5 9-0 Simon & Ed Crisford
16 71-300 Comfort Zone 6 9-0 Joseph O'Brien
17 81-085 Alphonse Le Grande 6 8-13 A J Martin
18 6-7049 Zanndabad 6 8-12 A J Martin
19 22-311 Small Fry 4 8-12 Joseph O'Brien
20 84-203 Too Bossy For Us 4 8-11 W P Mullins
21 111423 Beylerbeyi 5 8-11 Ian Williams
22 223193 Fireblade 4 8-10 Dylan Cunha
23 131/2- Hamsiyann 5 8-10 A J Martin
24 65970- Vischio 8 8-9 Emmet Mullins
25 5/70-4 Ndaawi 5 8-9 Gordon Elliott
26 -11122 Pendragon 3 8-8 Sir Mark Prescott Bt
27 1-3102 Mordor 5 8-8 Gordon Elliott
28 2/00-6 Plontier 9 8-8 W P Mullins
29 4/119- Seddon 12 8-7 John C McConnell
30 531812 Many Men 3 8-6 Jim Boyle
31 10-402 Minstrel Knight 4 8-5 Edward Bethell
32 1742-0 Toll Stone 5 8-5 Emmet Mullins
33 22-1 Winter Fog 11 8-5 W P Mullins
34 -53497 Scottish Anthem 6 8-5 Michael Keady
35 50-300 Vaguely Royal 5 8-4 Syd Hosie
36 07/10 Buddy One 8 8-4 Paul John Gilligan
37 24-421 Maxident 5 8-3 Kevin Philippart De Foy
38 98-091 Reverend Hubert 7 8-3 C Byrnes
39 17-221 Surrey Belle 5 8-2 4ex Adrian Paul Keatley
40 -12212 Savrola 6 8-1 Dianne Sayer
41 161165 Pole Star 3 8-1 Charlie Johnston
42 121113 Belgravian 3 8-1 Andrew Balding
43 751631 Caprelo 4 7-13 Hughie Morrison
44 883435 Bashful Boy 9 7-11 David Pipe
45 224714 Novelista 3 7-11 Charlie Johnston